The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact pustice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, OCT. 23, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2852, 23 October 1890, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact pustice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, OCT. 23, 1890.

The question of Protection vorsus Free Trade is a very into osting one, involving a largo political and commercial problem. Tho supporters of each side being numerous and energetic, advancing tlioir viess in season and out of season, and we may observo at times in a manner savouring more of warm partisanship than of calm conviction.

It is scarcely* necessary to say that we are Freetraders. Indeed it has always been difficult for us to understand, how anyone could be otherwise, who bears in mind the immense importance the agricultural and pastoral interests are to t.he colony, its vast natural resources aud limited population. Knowing also the direct burden which everything in the shape of customs duties imposes upon the people, particularly farmor.s, while adding nothing whatever to tho value of their staple products. Unfortunately our present position is such, that we are Protectionists more from necessity than choice, indeed if every Now Zealander were a Prnetrador tomorrow, our customs duties could not be abolished, at least until we had imposed some other form of taxation in its _ place. That a change in the incidence of taxation is we'll within sight, we quite bolieve aud take the opportunity of placing before our readors somo information recently to hand. I his bears dircctly upon somo of tho leading arguments advanced by Protectionists in support of their favourite theory. Those aro. firit, that Protection stimulates manufacturing iudustrios, causing local competition, with tho result that pricos aro lowered to tho consumer. Second ; that being protected from tho cheap labour of other countries, tho homo trado is strengthened aud improved and wages riso, Tho neighbouring colonies of Victoria and New South Wales afford an excolleut opportunity of testing tho practical results from tho rival systems. Tho formor boing strongly protective, whilst tho latter favours froo trado. Tho following list of pricos ob-

tained bofore che striko charged in their respective capital cities, Mel- ( bourne and Sydney, for articles in daily consumption in almost every • household, are instructive as to < whether Protection lowers prices to the consumer. ! Article Melbourne Svdney 8d S d Flour, self-raising, per 71b bag IS 12 Milk, Gold medal, per tin ... 9 n ~ Dairymaid, „ „ ... 7i Jam, colonial, per doz ... 5 0 4 0 ~ English, per tin ... It j> Candles, colonial, per lb ... 7 « ~ imported, ~ ... 8$ < Germea, per packet 10 1 •> Pickles, C. and 8., per bottle 14 1 U ~ Morton's, ~ ... 10 8 Sauce, L. and P., „ ... 1 4 1 ® „ Harvey 13 1 ° „ Yorkshire Relish, ... 8 J „ Anchovy, per bottle 14 11 Vinegar. C. and B. „ 10 [j „ Champion's, ~ ... 10 8 Soap, Hudson's Extract, per , n I o l l ~ Household, per cwt. ... 23 0 20 0 ~ Magical Gee long, ~ 28 0-o 0 Starch. Coleman's packet, per lb « $ Maccaroni, per lb 10 Maizena, ~ .. 7 •> Marmalade, Moir's, per tin h I Keillor's ~ 10 9 Mustard. Keen's, halves „ 11 •> „ Keen's, quarters, ~ !l 9f Keen's, Durham, ,t H 9 Matches, plaid vestas per doz 5 4 Matches, Safety, small „ 3 -.J Corned beef, 21b tins, per tin 1 6 10 Brawn, 21b tins, ~ 1 J j•> Sheep's tongues, lib tins ... 1 •> 1 £ Sheep's trotters 21b tins ... 1 8 lb Night lights, Clarke's, per doz 13 10 Salad ml, half pints, per bottle ... ' « Arrowroot, per lb., ... .. » '' Barlov, Robinson's, per tin... 10 J Blacking, D. and M., per bottle 12 10 Cocoa, Van Houtenss, small, per tin» 13 10 Cocoa, Van Houten'.s, large per tin 2 3 2 0 Candied Peel, per lb 10j 0 ;• Cornflour, Oswego, per lb ... 8 _ 7 Clothes pegs, per box, ... G(> o O Dates, per lb 7 4 Findon haddocks, per tin, ... 10 1U Kippered herrings, Moirs per tin -10 10 Red herrings, 2doz. tins, per tin ... ... ... ••• 3 I) o 0 Lobsters, American, per tin 1 0 104 Salmon, American, „ 1 0 10 Sardines, quarter, ~ <> „ halves, „ 10 8 Figs, per box 10 « Muscatels, per lb 2 0 1 J Bottled fruits, per bottle ... 13 10 Groats, Robinson's, per tin 10 9 Hops, per lb 1 6 1 0 It is somewhat remarkable that the difference between the prices is either exactly the amount of the duty or a slight advance upon it, also that imported goods are quoted quite as freely in Melbourne as in i Sydney, thus proving that Protection has not succeeded in shutting out the imported article, no further i proof being necessary to denioni strate this than the fact that from

1877 to 1887 Victoria imported twenty-eight millions sterling worth more goods than she sunt away. If we turn to luxuries, the same difference in prices is observable. The following list will show this : — Melbourne. Sydney. 8. d. H. d. Asparagus, per tin .. ... 1 9 13 Capers, Morton's half-pints, per bottle 10 8 Curry powder, Vent, halves, per tin ... 1 G 13 Extract of meat, Liebig's, per jar 2 2 2 0 Essences C and B, per bottle 10 10 Oysters, per tin ... .. 8 7 Herrings ala sardine, per tin 1 2 10 Mushrooms, per tin 1 •» 1 3 Nuts, Barcelona.', per lb. ... 7 0 Olives, half-pints, per bottle 11 'J ~ pints, per bottle ... 1 (i 13 Oils, C. and B. Lucca, quarts, per bottle 2 0 2 3 Oils, French salad, halfpints, per bottle ... ••• 7 6 Oils, French salad, pints, per bottle 10 10 French peas, per tin 1 0 10 Pastes and potted meats, C. and 15., per bottle 12 10 Devilled ham, per tin ... 1 2 10 The above price-lists clearly show that when put into active practice, as it lias been in Victoria, Protection, instead of causing competition and lowering prices to the consumer, has had the opposite effect, and risen them about 20 per cent. But, after all, the Protectionists will say, the loss is but apparent, not real, being compensated by higher wages. Let us see. The following scale has been supplied by leading Unionists, and is as instructive as the price lists: — Trade. Melbourne. Sydney. United laborers... 7s 8* Stonemasons ... 10s Sd lis to 12s Plasterers ... 10s Its Painters 8s 9s Cabinetmakers ... £2 lis £2 10s week Ooo|xsrs 10s Pressers £2 10s £2 los Bakers .£2 10s £2 10 s Bakers'carters ... £2 £2 5s Amalgamated carpenters 10s 10s Ironmoulders ... 10s 8d 9s 4d Tinsmiths ... £215s £214s Coachmakers ... 9s 10s (id (}as Stokers ... £3 (is Gd Abmitsame 'Bus-inen 7s to 9s About same Tailors 412 2s £2 18s Cabmen 20s (found) About same Rutchers £3 About same ~ Shopmen £2 "h £1 10s Lithographers ... £3 5s £3 :i« Irondressers ... £2 2s £1 18s Coal lumpers ... £1 Kis £2 2s Bricklayers ... 10s8d ltj Plumbers... ... 10 s 10s Compositors ... £3 About same Millers 10s About same

These figures are unehalleageable and speak for themselves; where they have been in favour of the Protectionist city we have not failed to give then). The conviction forced upon the mind of an impartial person after pursuing the foregoing will be, that the supposed advantages of Protection must be great indeed to compensate for the certain drawbacks of higher prices, lower wages and restriction of intercolonial trade. As we have said, the question of taxation is one which is forcing itself upon public attention. We ask our readers of all classes, before arriving at any conclusion to calmly consider the suggestive figures we have been able to lay before then).